Wojciech Staroniewicz A'Freak-aN Project - Live In Gdańsk (2019)

Wojciech Staroniewicz A'Freak-aN Project

Wojtek Staroniewicz - saxophone
Przemek Dyakowski - saxophone
Darek Herbasz - saxophone
Marcin Janek - saxophone
Dominik Bukowski - vibraphone
Janusz Mackiewicz - bass
Roman Ślefarski - drums
Larry Okey Ugwu - percussion


Live In Gdańsk

Allegro 038

By Adam Baruch

This is the third album by veteran Polish Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader Wojciech Staroniewicz and his A`Freak-aN Project ensemble, which is an octet featuring a saxophone quartet and an extended rhythm section: Staroniewicz on tenor, Przemek Dyakowski on tenor, Dariusz Herbasz on baritone, Marcin Janek on soprano, Dominik Bukowski on vibraphone, Janusz Mackiewicz on bass, Roman Ślefarski on drums and Larry Okey Ugwu on percussion. The album, which was recorded live at Radio Gdańsk, presents seven compositions, two of which are originals by Staroniewicz, four are by Krzysztof Komeda and one is by McCoy Tyner, all arranged by Staroniewicz.

This album is in fact a live version of the previous album by the ensemble from 2015, called "A'Freak-Komeda Project", except for the Tyner track. Therefore basically everything I wrote about that album applies also here - just click on the link.

As Staroniewicz says on the album's artwork, this album is a great opportunity to compare the same music recorded in studio and live, which of course can be very different. The live concert setting offers much more dynamics and excitement and expanded improvisations, but is prone to minor "mishaps", which in retrospect are usually simply charming.

Since the Komeda arrangements are really very special, I recommend to Polish Jazz enthusiasts to put their hands on this album as well and compare these versions with the studio ones, and enjoy a great live album with excellent musicians on board.